Somali Referee Responds To World Cup Visa Denial
After being refused entrance into the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan responded calmly and professionally, stating that he is still focused on the next phase of his officiating career.
The Somali official, who was scheduled to become the first from his country to officiate the World Cup, said he is choosing optimism.
He was denied entry into the U.S.A. after arriving in South Florida on Saturday, in line with Trump's travel restrictions on some countries including Somalia.
Artan pledged to continue improving his standards and thanked FIFA and CAF for their support during a trying time.
“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he added.
He also thanked the larger football community for their support and words of encouragement following the announcement.
Along with wishing his fellow officials a successful tournament, he expressed his excitement about competing with them in the future.
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